General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Thomas Letang has promised to turn up the heat to have lingering issues at the Public Works Corporation (PWC) resolved once and for all.
Letang spoke to the media on Wednesday after PWC workers resumed protest action on the basis that they still have not been paid for four fortnights and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), that was to set a time frame to resolve burning issues, was not signed by Tuesday.
Letang stated that the situation will be reviewed and support will be sought from other members of the DPSU.
“Definitely we have to review the situation and see how we can intensify our efforts, see how we can sensitize other people because in a struggle like this you would need solidarity from the rest of your membership and if by the end of this week this matter is not resolved definitely we will begin our sensitization program and try to get as much support as possible,” he said.
The DPSU’s boss argued that the union has exhausted “all our efforts” and it cannot allow “people to take us as jokers.”
He noted that “a lot of patience” has been excercised “to prevent unrest.”
“But it has reached the stage where we cannot think of anything else to keep the guys quiet,” Letang noted. “They are the ones who are suffering, they are the ones who know what they are experiencing and they are the ones who know.”
He informed that the draft MOU was submitted on Monday and adequate time was provided for it to be reviewed and to be signed by Tuesday.
He stated that by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, he received a call from the Chairman of the PWC Board, Titus Francis, informing him that the MOU has to be discussed with their lawyers.
“So seeing that the MOU was not signed as promised, the protest action is continuing,” he remarked. “Is that unreasonable? Do you have to consult a lawyer for that?”
He noted that the is nothing in the MOU that would necessitate a delay to consult lawyers and he thinks that these are just “tactics” being used.
He reiterated the PSU’s position to continue protest action until the issues are resolved.
Commenting on the matter, Francis said while he feels the pressure and pain of employees and he sympathizes with them, what is taking at the PWC “is a microcosm of what is happening in the bigger picture” which it must be addressed first.
He said this involves restructuring the PWC and making it a viable and efficient organization.
“I wish they could stop the protest action because protesting means you are being unproductive,” Francis said. “I mean you are making your point, you’ve made your point already, we’ve heard them.”
He said the PWC loses money when employees protest and they still have to get paid since they reported for work.
“My advice is they should go back to work but they have a right to withdraw their labour if the feel that they are offended,” he noted. “For how long they wish to continue with that protest, it is left to them but I wish that it would end.”
He said they PWC is approaching the situation from a number of perspectives with a view of bringing it under control.
As it relates to the signing of the MOU, Francis said it was brought to PWC’s lawyers because if it was signed as is, it would tie their hands behind their backs.
Below is the MOU.
“General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Thomas Letang has promised to turn up the heat to have lingering issues at the Public Works Corporation (PWC) resolved once and for all.”
Thomas, you just keep talking without getting any attention from Skerrit, and Pinard! Industrialize matters are never resolved by simply talking. This conflict has been going on for too long, the government is ignoring you!
They are playing with you like a toy, a rag-doll as a matter of fact. The only, and most effective way to get a resolve, is by calling a general strike, shut the island down; that is probably the only language besides French Skerrit will understand!
If you do not know how to it started (call we president) he will tutor you on how to get it started Savarin is an expert on starting shutdown, and civil war.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
Him good at that boy!
Remember is five years okay, so you have to get accustome to the five years syndrome. Okay. I would like to see in your closet to see if you not hiding from the word “Corrupt”. Remember birds of a feather flock together.
That is what Titus will say. “I wish they would stop”. The workers have not been paid for 4 fortnights yet I am sure that he got his full salary already for last month. All of them getting their big money. Put yourselves in the workers shoes and see how it feels.
United Workers on strike again? LOL, cough BAWI cough.
PWC you are not a factor in the development of Dominica closing you down will help the country. strike on.
Amen. You see they have no work to do. Doing what they accustome of doing, just seating around.
“Doing what they accustome of doing, just seating around.”
Helen it is not seating around. It should be ” sitting around!”
Seating imply’s the act of providing seats for sitting, or you could be talking about material for covering, or upholstering seats, or a seat on or in which something rests. There is another one but I will not comment because I also add the extra letter, or leave out plenty, when I error.
Seating- is due to the Dominica accent, and spelling according to how some of us speak. It is important to note that the people sitting there are all supports of the Labor Party, and Skerrit you know. Remind them people who supports the UWP, and any other party cannot venture in there to apply for work you know, never mind begin employed in that place.
“never mind begin employed in that place.”
And I error also: that should read ” never mind being employed in that place.)
Its time this place close and go private.
But seriously people….why is their an MOU needed for BACK PAY.
I understand it will be needed for future terms….but their was already a contract under which these guys deserved their pay. PWC workers joking. You all better block the E.O.Leblanc Highway….put all the PWC equipment in the road until you get your pay. You see it worked for Salisbury! I’m sure there is lots of Malayasian money sitting in an account that can give you 4 fortnights pay in an instant!
“Mandate 2 mismanage” I suspect you do Maths and Finance or even GDP etc means or what is economic development.
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/34838553@N04/sets/72157652721817380/
While they basking in luxury ,Rolls-Royce ,expensive drinks and selling our passports and celebrating our independence with people who have no idea who we are public works employees cannot eat.
I will say again, the PSU is weak and Thomas letang need to step out. By now you should be organizing a mass protest with all unions. 30 plus millions recently spent on foreign artist and gospel singer to woo fools with cheesecake in the sky promises. Meantime people cannot get paid. The government is the biggest waste of money in the country. Letang enough talk and get into real action. Or else stop wasting people’s time.
no one disfranchised group should alone demonstrate the way to get result is to work in solidarity.the revelation of
mydominicantradehouse.com MUST BE SHOWN in a town hall meeting so every woman man and child should know how well Dominica is doing out there in the outworld.i hope VERY MUCh we will see those photos soon online again
union promises to turn up the heat real hot to melt steel. 36 yrs ago DA was melting under this current President Medard was in Pampers no Diapers could not afford pampers then.
When they are done signing the sPWD MOU let them tell us about th one with the Chinese. if not turn on the heat hotter than hell.
Block de road if u want results
Just ah whole bag ah talk!!
So red clinic recipients get paid every wednesday, but public works employees have to protest to get paid?
Just put yourselves in the PWC workers shoes. 4 fortnights no pay?! Who the hec is running a ship like that? Why are you keeping people on without being able to pay them? I recall witnessing roseau city council workers coming for payments to be told “sorry” right before school opened. I was amazed that violence didn’t ensue, when they had their kids materials to purchase. Dominica is already so darn expensive in terms of cost of living, and you expect ppl to work with no pay?
Strikes should have begun the first fortnight pay wasn’t doled out. property damage to ensue after the 2nd fortnight of free labor. It is shameful and sad that this is what has to occur to let the powers that be get serious and realize the workers’ lives are as important as their own! Does Domlec accept 4 fortnights of non-payment when a situation like this occurs…Nope…they need their multimillion dollar profit…so what are the workers to do?
While those who ask the people to make sacrifices rolling in Rolls-Royce, flying first class and raking in millions in passport deals. Injustice never done
If this is your response for working two months and not getting paid .something is wrong with you. These folks worked they deserve their pay. If there’s not enough work for all decrease the staff but lord pay them. The country has enough misery already. Somebody has to pay for that. The lord sees in dark places.
Sad but true, if you don’t protest in Dominica for what you need, NOT want, you will get nothing, nada, zilch, ernyen! Allu better go get gas masks because SSU coming down soon.
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Didn’t Jeff Joe or one of the local musicians/ groups once wrote a song entitled ” Nou travaie por aien”, meaning we worked for nothing and were enslaved? That’s exactly how the current administration treats PWD workers, I guess in exchange for creating chea labor for wachee -cho machee-cho?
That is not Breaking News, since I little girls PWD striking its the norm. So for people to get what they want now is so they acting hemmmmm
Its clear no work for all you do. Time to close down
Who cares too many of you are there its time to decrease the staff.
Ya right! but he Skerro signed a MOU with China we are yet to see lol more strike needed in all constituencies.
Franz Fanon’s recipe to deal with imperialism. Upheaval every where simultaneously. We can call on Dr. Christian to help organize a shell orchestra and make 21 round blowing around the Ministry & Financial Center. ( Joke on him) Let’s see if they have enough expired tear gas canisters left lol! 29th May is close.
letang once again go to ur personal library and bring out the president’s recipe book. or better yet go to his office and chat with him he might be euphoric in discussing it and there might give valuable infor to topple his partner. lol! you can learn & become President in 2041
“The country nice boy” …. I beg of my fellow Dominicans to open your brains !!! …and take a look at what’s going on in the country … stop settling for less than you deserve! my God ! Take a stand !
Dominica is in great turmoil,LORD GOD PLEASE FREE MY BELOVED COUNTRY
What is breaking about this news? Same old lousy protests same results.
while fellars driving around in 750k us dollars bullet proof cars and they referring to him as his excellency with multi billion dollars business in Malaysia, housing passport sales offices at his house, LITTLE ORDINARY citizens KARLAYING YENYEN to make two ends meet.
I always said Dominicans are the most foolish people in the Caribbean,
“KARLAYING YENYEN”
Assertive, NOT Aggressive!
Yes i agree dominicans are the most foolish people alive today. Stupid set of people . have a man and his cronies getting rich and just sit down dere wi. And they poor poor and stupid . all u putting people in power to make millions and all not making nothing. up to now no tablets noting wicked set ah people
You ppl are just a set of fool. Don’t u no this country are rich country and dey don’t have vehicle like our driving none of their officials. I mean please ppl use your commonsense before commenting to everything you hear on Q95. this is how these country treat their foreign dignitaries.
Okay. So what. All Governments do business with other countries. Its the norm. So what, not breaking news or even things to talk about. If you go to school in August you foolish not me partner. So stop calling people names or insulting your own. Politics make us say and do things we regret we say and do after.
what a sin ting, corrupt ministers must go.